One of the most talked about storylines in Coronation Street history comes to a moving conclusion next Monday when Hayley decides to end her life (Picture: ITV/PA)

The suicide of Coronation Street’s cancer-stricken character Hayley Cropper could lead to ‘copycat deaths’, experts have warned.

In the ITV soap, actress Julie Hesmondhalgh’s character decides to end her life by taking a cocktail of drugs in the face of incurable cancer.

But the Samaritans charity, which advised the producers on the storyline, warned Hayley’s suicide could have a worrying impact on the show’s audience.

‘We want to limit the risk of copycat suicides. That is why we advised them to give no details of the medication or how she obtained the drugs,’ said a spokesman.

‘Portraying an overdose, for example, as a gentle and peaceful way to die, can be very dangerous and bears no resemblance to the reality of slow liver failure afterwards.

‘We have advised them to make it as safe as possible but we can’t stop them from doing it. We might not agree, but dramas all, at some point, cover these issues.’

The warning comes as a new poll based on the storyline, published by The Sun (£), found 73 per cent of Britons support changing the law to give terminally ill people ‘the right to end their suffering’.

Roy and Hayley Cropper are a much-loved couple on the Street (Picture: ITV)

The controversial storyline will reflect the split in opinion in the right-to-die debate with both Roy and Hayley’s friend Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine) struggling to deal with her decision.

Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn said: ‘This is a very sensitive issue and we will be exploring the effects of her decision on husband Roy who has a huge emotional and moral dilemma over her choice to die this way.

‘Not everyone will feel Hayley’s decision is the right one and we fully respect this, for that reason we will be exploring both sides of the debate on screen.’

Haley’s final scenes will be shown across two episodes next Monday.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch.